FYI – I have not been kidnapped although it may seem that way…I cant believe how long it has been since I have blogged. Not that nothing has happened but everything has happened lately and I havent been able to find time to blog… Reading over the last blog made me realize, I need to wrap up the end of the year and be better in the New Year!

Last year ended for me when the last team left New Hope. The American staff had Thanksgiving dinner and I was blessed with a turkey leg! I then got busy preparing to close things up for the Holiday season and was blessed with finances that provided for me to make an unexpected trip home. Prior to leaving, I had such mixed feelings as I was on the phone one day, assuring my daughter I would be there soon and missed her so much…then a knock came at the door and two girls from my family asked, “Auntie, when will you be leaving?” I said very soon, but I love you and will miss you so much and will be home soon……it was then that I realized I was leaving home to go home so I could quickly return home……(maybe I should take a break)

Kasana /Uganda has indeed found a special place in my heart and I totally love it there. I am so blessed with a loving Pacific family that I share my life with. I was also very excited to return to Colorado to see my own children and grandchildren and to share all that God had done. The Lord has used me to help finish a school project that was started by my church almost 4 years ago. While home, I had a couple of fellowship nights, met with friends and sat in on bible studies and spoke to a womens group…all in the glory of God. I have been blessed to bring home the total amount needed to finish the roof on the school and also provide benches in the classrooms, God is soooo good! Through your love and financial support, I have been able to accomplish many interesting projects that the Lord has put in front of me. It has been amazing to watch His provision and see all that He does with a surrendered life. In my weakness, I see His strength!

I was mightily blessed to be home exactly one week when my grandson ventured into the world. I was honored to be there for the birth and assisted in his first bath. Gavin Friederick Lechner was born on December 14th at 8lbs, he also came out with a full head of hair. Such a little man and I was so blessed to be present for the arrival of this beautiful gift from God. I also reaquainted with little Xaviar as he was talking much more than when I left and is being potty trained. Morgan and Charli are getting big and attend a private school with their cousin Caroline, the three girls are quite a site! As much as I missed the grandchildren, I know it will be even harder this time around but God has a plan in my life and theirs. We had great fun as we caught up and I totally enjoyed just loving on them and spoiling them. We had family pictures taken and Javen and Audrey were able to join us from Florida. Ryan was so excited to spend time with his son. Ryan is doing great as he is setting up home not far from my place, Katie is in the process of moving houses and jobs. Nicole is staying busy with her jewelry business, Lia Sophia and Josh has been debating a move to Texas. It was great to be home for a time and see all that my children are involved in.

We shared a family New years evening eating crab, shrimp and mussels served with lots of butter and thrown on a paper tablecloth. Some even at the potato but I didnt want to waste the room in my stomach! This is one of our favorite family times and we try to do it at least once a year. We then played pool, darts and foosball in the newly crafted “Man Cave”. My brother has claimed my garage and has transformed the interior with drywall and carpet and a slew of “man things”. We ended the night watching the fireworks off the peak. Shortly after New years I was blessed with a trip to Costa Mesa California to attend a missions conference. the Lord totally blessed my time there and I really enjoyed meeting people from all different countries and seeing what the Lord was doing all over the world. My favorite time was the second evening we had late worship and they sang “How great is our God” in several different languages simultaneously…it was like sitting at the foot of the throne. I could not even sing in English because I was so touched by this angelic choir…it must be like this in heaven. The confernce ended and I was honored to have dinner with the Costa Mesa team that had visited New Hope and blessed me with this conference. There was three of us that continued into the evening with street ministry to the homeless…then breakfast and conversation until 4am at the local diner. We continued on in the early hours visiting Home Depot (for seeds) then Trader Joes and ending with breakfast at IHop before they escorted me to the airport. I had not pulled an all nighter in years and was cracking up when I got on the plane! What an incredibly blessed time with my brothers and sisters in Christ.

I have been running like crazy the last four days as I have packed up for Uganda and weighed all the tubs. I have many skirts, shirts and shoes to pass out when I get home. My children have been hanging out as much as possible and meeting for meals, it should be like this all the time! We ended with a bang as my grandchildren had a sleep over and my oldest daughter stayed up with me all night as we finished the “list” that seemed to keep growing. My brother arrived for breakfast with the rest of my children and we had our “last meal” before the 10 errands that ended in a drive to Denver airport. As I sit here I am blessed even in the knowledge of a plane delay. I wanted to have time to update my blog and seemed to have failed so many times, but with Gods grace, my plane has been delayed 4 hours and I have been sitting here catching up on emails, reading facebook and “chatting” with others as I try to update my blog before heading to the bush.

As i close, I want to thank you all for the blessing you are in my life, your friendship, your prayers and just your geniuine love for me is very humbling. I would ask for your continued prayers as I set out to Uganda not certain if I will be home for the 4th of July or the first fall of snow. God knows and I am totally free to live daily without the worry of tommorrow, I have no fear because He goes before me and stands beside me and watches me from behind! Pray about the Lords will in your life and what He would have you surrender this year. I pray that you have an unexpected blessing and a peace beyond all understanding this coming year.

Blessings to all,

Desiree’